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Canon TR8620a vs Brother DCP-L2640DW: Color Prints or Larger Scan Batches?

Choose the Canon TR8620a for color documents and copies. Choose the Brother DCP-L2640DW when monochrome output is enough and larger single-sided scan batches are your priority. Both have automatic document feeders and can scan in color.

Published by Pickoryx · Published 2026-10-07

Source checked 2026-10-07 18:50 UTC

Products compared

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The buying question

Do you need printed color, and how large are your single-sided Letter scan batches?

Printed color versus a larger rated document-feeder load.

Quick verdict

Choose Brother DCP-L2640DW if

  • You regularly scan suitable 21–50-sheet Letter stacks on 20 lb paper and do not need color output.
When to skip: You require automatic two-sided scanning.
When the recommendation changes
  • Color is needed only in saved scans, rather than printed output.
  • Most suitable scan stacks contain no more than 20 sheets.
  • Automatic two-sided scanning is essential.

The differences that matter

Printed Color Requirement

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

Color printing and copying.[1]

Brother DCP-L2640DW

Black-and-white printing and copying.[2]

What this changes: Choose Canon if color must appear on paper; a monochrome copy will not preserve a color-coded original in color.[1, 2]

The better fit depends on your priorities

Single Sided Document Batch Loading

Canon PIXMA TR8620a

ADF: up to 20 sheets of Letter-size plain paper.[1]

Brother DCP-L2640DW

ADF: up to 50 pages, based on 20 lb paper.[3]

What this changes: For supported plain, single-sided, same-size Letter originals, batches of 21–50 sheets exceed Canon’s rated load but fit Brother’s 20 lb capacity rating. This compares loading, not scanning speed.[1, 3]

Best fit: Brother DCP-L2640DWView Brother DCP-L2640DW on AmazonPaid link

Best for your routine

Color-coded handouts or color copies

Best fit: Canon PIXMA TR8620a

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

Printed color is the deciding requirement; accept the smaller feeder load.

A 40-sheet single-sided Letter scan job

Best fit: Brother DCP-L2640DW

Based on listed features, not comparative testing.

For supported plain 20 lb originals, the rated capacities imply one Brother load versus at least two Canon loads. That is a loading calculation, not a measured time saving.

Short scans saved digitally

The better fit depends on your priorities

With suitable stacks of 20 sheets or fewer, both feeder ratings cover the batch. If saved files need color but paper output does not, color printing alone need not decide your purchase.

Value and trade-offs

One or both observed offers have eligibility conditions, so no unrestricted price difference is shown.

Pay more only for a capability your routine needs: printed color or fewer feeder loads. Check current offers separately.

Insufficient price history to advise purchase timing.

Limitations

  • The feeder example is limited to supported plain, single-sided, same-size Letter originals. Canon’s separate Legal-paper limit is 5 sheets; Brother’s 50-page maximum is based on 20 lb paper, with a stated ADF weight range of 16–28 lb. Do not apply the example to other originals without checking their requirements.
  • Neither printer automatically scans both sides of an original.
  • No hands-on comparison or ownership-cost estimate was performed.

Questions shoppers ask

What if I need color output and routinely scan larger stacks?

Choose Canon if printed color is non-negotiable, and plan to divide the scan job. If a single larger load is also non-negotiable, neither option meets both requirements in this pair.

Does automatic duplex printing mean automatic duplex scanning?

No. These are separate functions. Both can print double-sided automatically, but scanning both sides requires manual handling.

Methodology and sources

Compared output color and rated feeder loading; distinguished digital scans from printed copies and loading capacity from measured speed.

AI assisted with source comparison and drafting.

View 3 sources
  1. 1.PIXMA TR8620a product specificationsCanon · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-07 18:47 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Technical specifications: Printer, Copier document feeder, Scanner features and Color Depth; Features: Auto Document Feeder: Color output; 20 plain Letter-sheet feeder (5 Legal); color scan; manual two-sided scan; automatic duplex printing.
  2. 2.DCP-L2640DW product specificationsBrother · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-07 18:47 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Product overview; Paper Handling; Print; Scan; Copy: Monochrome output and copies; color scanning; no duplex scan; automatic duplex printing.
  3. 3.DCP-L2640DW brochureBrother · Official specifications · Source checked 2026-10-07 18:47 UTC
    Evidence used on this page
    • Page 2: Paper Handling, Media Weights, Scan and footnotes 4 and 8: 50-page ADF maximum based on 20 lb paper; ADF 16–28 lb; Letter scanning referenced by footnote 4; no duplex scan.